When the Green-Whites welcome FC St. Pauli to the Volkswagen Arena on Wednesday evening (kick-off at 6:30 p.m.) in their first home appearance of the calendar year, two old acquaintances meet once again. VfL and the Hamburg-based side have been crossing swords since as far back as 1954. Only a very small number – just six of the 59 encounters to date – have taken place in the Bundesliga. While Daniel Bauer’s side conclude their first half of the season with this match, the fixture represents a starting signal for their opponents. Due to the postponement of their match against Leipzig on the previous matchday, the Hanseatic side are still yet to play a competitive game this year. More facts and figures ahead of the northern derby under the floodlights:
- In the Bundesliga, St. Pauli have so far been unbeatable for Wolfsburg – the VfL have not won any of the six matches against the Kiezkicker (one defeat and five draws).
- Nevertheless, the Wolves have already won direct top-flight encounters: In ten matches against St. Pauli between 1954 and 1959 in the Oberliga Nord, they emerged victorious twice.
- After a run of nine consecutive defeats, the Hamburg side have remained unbeaten in their last three matches (win against Heidenheim, draws in Cologne and Mainz).
- The current tally of 15 points after 16 Bundesliga matchdays represents a historic low for the VfL. Only a win against St. Pauli will prevent the weakest first half of the season in the club’s history.
- Green and White have already scored seven times in the first 15 minutes of matches in this Bundesliga season – the outright highest tally in the league. St. Pauli have managed just one goal in this period (no team fewer).
- Dzenan Pejcinovic scored four goals on the last two matchdays – including a hat-trick in the most recent home game – more than any other player. Before his 21st birthday, only Maximilian Arnold (14) and Josip Brekalo (6) scored more Bundesliga goals for the VfL than Pejcinovic.
- St. Pauli head coach Alexander Blessin is set to oversee his 50th Bundesliga match as a coach; in his first 49 games, his team scored just 41 goals. Should St. Pauli score fewer than two goals on Wednesday, it would mark a new negative Bundesliga record.
